Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material

by Ina May Gaskin

There is no special curse on women that makes birth a punishment.

I visualized my yoni as a big, open cave beneath the surface of the ocean, with huge, surging currents sweeping in and out. As the wave of water rushed into my cave, my contraction would grow and swell and fill, reach a full peak, then ebb smoothly back out.

Any act of will on her part seemed focused on remaining in that state of gratitude.

For me, “spiritual” meant all of the thoughts, words, and actions that lift the spirits and bring an atmosphere of calm acceptance to the travail of giving birth: small acts of kindness, prayers, a song, silence, expressions of love and kindness. These are ways that may lessen pain or the resistance that comes from fear. When pain is still there, bringing in the spirit can make it more bearable.

That mother gave meaning to being in a state of grace. For me it’s this: the expression of gratitude for whatever might be brought to mind in an intense situation such as labor and birth; thanks to life, gratitude for the ability to take each breath, for having access to lifesaving help, to be bringing forth this particular child, gratitude for those helping.

“Trade expectation for appreciation, and the world changes instantly.” —Found on a placemat in an Amish store

I learned that true words spoken can sometimes relax pelvic muscles by discharging emotions that effectively block further progress in labor.

Most women need encouragement and companionship more than they need drugs. That said, be aware that if your labor is accelerated by intravenous oxytocin, you are likely to experience a significantly greater level of pain than you otherwise would have had. Being upright and moving around may help alleviate this.

Even if it has not been your habit throughout your life so far, I recommend that you learn to think positively about your body.

Meanwhile, the baby’s skull (which, like the pelvis, is made up of separate bones held together with flexible ligaments) is able to temporarily mold itself for easier passage through the maternal pelvic bones.